Hui Gong Ge Writing Method (Beginner's Book 4)

Author: Yang Guowei Wu Bin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The Hui Gong Ge (Nine-Grid) divides Chinese characters into two sections—“Inner Palace” and “Outer Palace” for memory. The significance of these sections far exceeds the role of stroke positioning. It demonstrates to learners the structural principles of Chinese characters, such as “tight inside, loose outside,” “dense inside, sparse outside,” and “solid inside, hollow outside.” Teachers using the Hui Gong Ge not only teach students which stroke is positioned where but also how to structure a character to make it compact and aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, the Hui Gong Ge teaching method not only helps students learn to write but more importantly, teaches them the principles of writing well.
The content of this book focuses on the writing guidance of isolated characters and vertically structured characters, which forms the foundational part of the entire curriculum. All subsequent compound characters and their structural rules are built upon this foundation. The six writing textbooks follow an arrangement: starting with isolated characters, then compound characters; first with vertical structures, then horizontal ones. Emphasis is placed on stroke extension before guiding the combination and pairing of the main parts. The teaching process progresses from simple to complex.
Part 1 and Part 2 guide students to focus on the general patterns of isolated and vertically structured characters, without detailed instruction on stroke writing. Isolated and vertically structured characters are primarily divided into three types: triangular (or trapezoidal), inverted triangular, and rhombus-shaped. Once students grasp the structural patterns, they can use the Hui Gong Ge to appropriately contract and extend the strokes and structure of the characters.
Starting from Part 3, detailed guidance is provided on the main parts of characters, especially the combination and pairing of compound characters. The teaching methods emphasize the following points:
1. Distinguish the Inner Palace and Outer Palace of the Hui Gong Ge with vivid means, such as lightly coloring the Inner Palace or using different colors to separate them.
2. The left and right sides of the Inner Palace play a significant role:
- They display stroke extension.
- They serve as a local positioning guide.
- They determine the width of the character.
- They show the orientation (vertical or slanted) of strokes. Thus, they must not be overlooked in teaching.
3. The top and bottom sides of the Inner Palace are also crucial. They decisively determine the height of the character and are vital for the positioning and emphasis of the first stroke in many characters.
4. In teaching stroke extension, strengthen the training of the awareness of extension. Teachers can lead students to practice repeatedly using hand gestures, body movements, and writing techniques. Additionally, colored pencils can be used to trace the extended parts, or pencils to circle them.
5. In teaching, pay attention to transferring the writing skills using the Hui Gong Ge. Emphasize guiding students to independently write characters based on the characteristics of their shapes, without relying on the Inner Palace. The skip-grid design in the textbook serves this purpose.
The Hui Gong Ge teaching method has transformed the passive dynamics of teaching and learning. The teaching method is straightforward: start with stroke extension, grasp the characteristics of Chinese characters from macro to micro, and proceed step by step. When students write, they visually grasp the simplified, conceptualized combination form of Chinese characters—the main part and the extension. This innovative approach to teaching and learning undoubtedly adds new vitality to the reform of writing education and greatly boosts the confidence of both teachers and students in teaching and mastering writing skills.